New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-10-26

N1NW p eAS SiAS AlGNVS OttSA SAONL tIuN1
get il. As the engine went BY one Of
her mistake. Well, the poor girl was
heart broken to think she had made
a mistake for she takes great pride
in her work and then to have this
on top broke her all up. i happened
to come out soon afterwnrd and she
told me bout it. The man was Civ
en- his time, and that was the last
complaint / ever heard from Annie.
But 90 out and see her yourself. =
"a / did SO. n
s3 The stock yard 5 are situated about
a mile and a half west Of the main
yard, although aninterlacing chain Of
tracks extends the entire distance, Gll-s
ed most OF the time with putting en-
gines and moving cars. Out beyond
the gigantic elevators, where is stored
away the product Of the northwest
ern prairles. the tracks narrow a
they leave the yard proper ands
stretch away to the stock-yards. q
1t was q lowering day IN August
when ] walked out along the track,
Out IN the open, like a brown dot5in a
mass OF black spider threads, lay An
MES switch ''shanty;;"'5 a mark for bit
ing winter winds and scorching
summer suns, from which it's thin aids
would seemto afford but poor protec-
ton. A cold north wind came sweep.
ing across the marshy valley, bringing
with it suspicion ofrain. Tt was
one OF those days peculiar to the west
ern shore Of Lake Michigan, where the
flop OF a, weather vane changes to dog
day heat to autumn's chill.
Over the northeast the spires and
cupolas OF the crowded city stood out
against the cloudy sky Back and be-
You'd the brown shanty a small grove
OF second growth trees climb the
ABRUPT hill, leaving the little strip of
meadow beneath to look out for it.
self.
The door OF the switch shanty
stands open. Inside a young woman
was busily engaged with knitting work.
In answer to a question if this is
"Switch Annie a bright, comely face,
bronzed by summer sun to color
which an Atlantic City bather would
envy, is projected from behind the
door, and an affirmative reply, accom-
panied by smile that reveals two
rows OF white. even teeth, is given.
1t was the first glimpse OF sunshine
that day. I had pictured tall, raw
boned, stolid-featured amazon, in
whom muscular development had
checked all other. I found a plump,
cOmely young woman. with a Gun
shiny face and modest manner.
Clear headed, intelligent, quick witted,
hut calm and selt-reliant- altogether
an enjoyable picture Of strong, health.
full womanhood. In stature Annie is
little above average height, with
plump, welcomed figure and
shaprly head firmly poised on pair
OF shoulders a duchess might envy.
A broad, straw hat coquettishly pin
ned up on one side shades the round
face. The hands which ply the knit
tlng-needles are brown and calloused,
but shapely, A neat dress of dark
colors with broad-toed low-heeled
walking shoes, built for service and
not for show, completed the picture.
At the time of my visit Annie was
receiving a call from her uncle, him
self a railroad man, and to whom I
am indebted for many facts in rela-
ton to this remarkable girl.
After the first slight reserve had
worn off, Annie talked freely in regard
to herself and her work.
''How long have I been throwing
switches?" she said in reply to ques-
ton. "About twelve years. How
did / commence? Well. when father
was first given this place there were
only two switches to look after. Then
business began increasing and more
switches were put in. That made it
hard for him but he got along until he
had to be out nights. OF course then
he had to get some sleep in the day.
time. So my sister, four years older
than used to come out and tend the
switches when father was asleep. After
wardshe tito learn telegraphing and
when came from school used to
help father. Twas spry and ] guess I
learned quick; anyway ] gave good
satisfaction, and was finally put on
as an assistant when the number of
switches increased. At first received
$25 q month. then $50 and $35; one
| received Forty, but was after
ward put back to thirty
five. That was my wages until
father was killed. Then they gave me
his place. l now get $40 month,
with house rent and fuel. NV hours
are from 6 in the morning until in
the evening. In the summer / have
every other Sunday of, but i'll the fall
and winter must work every Sunday"
You do not have much time for
'..No; that's the hardest thing about
the work When see every one else
going out Sunday to have q good time
and have to work, it breaks my
heart The words were TO flowed
by a CHEEKY laugh that little indicated
a damaged anatomay.
Do not imagine all this conversa-
tion was carried on uninterruptedly.
All the time Annie was glancing up
and down the track, keeping sharp
lookout for trains, while her nimble
fingers piled the knitting-needles on
xuh a WAS tOs hn @. NJ q, .no NIT fnn fr,.